Tenkara Fishing Blog

Jun 24, Take an Old Fart Fishing

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:58:09 -0400

Take an Old Fart Fishing - an open request for someone to organize a program to take seniors who can no longer drive on fishing outings.

Jun 7, Old Geezers Wide-Eyed Flies

Sat, 7 Jun 2025 22:01:47 -0400

Old Geezer's Wide-Eyed Flies for squint-eyed guys. Tied by and for some old geezer whose eyes aren't sharp and whose hands aren't steady.

Oct 16, Introducing the TenkaraBum Traveler 32++ and Traveler 36++

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 04:30:00 -0400

OK, I confess. The TenkaraBum Traveler 32++ and 36++ are not new rods. They are new, outside-the-box views of existing rods. I was doing a final pre-shipping quality check of a TenkaraBum Traveler 44 and a TenkaraBum Traveler 39. Suddenly it struck me that I may have been thinking of the rods the wrong way all along. What hit me was that the Traveler 44 is not a nice 4.4 meter rod that can be fished at shorter lengths when on smaller streams. Instead, it is a truly wonderful 3.6 meter rod that can be fished at longer lengths when on wider streams. Similarly, the Traveler 39 is a superb 3.2 meter rod that can be fished at 3.6 and 3.9 meter lengths when a longer rod is needed. Thinking about the rods that way, I would not be surprised if you decided the TenkaraBum Traveler 44 was the best 3.6m rod you have ever fished. Sounds strange to say it, but it's true. The TenkaraBum Traveler 39 might be the best "small stream" rod you have ever fished - even though no one would think of a 3.9 meter rod as a small stream rod. Think of it as a 32++ and the perspective changes completely.

Dec 3, This Just In...

Sun, 3 Dec 2023 10:43:07 -0500

Odds and ends.

Used Fishing Books and DVDs The books are largely but not entirely on bait fishing, steelhead fishing and spin fishing. The DVDs are a mix of tenkara and European nymphing.

3 x 5 Photo Tanks (imperfect) The tanks have always come from the factory with minor scratches. These are scratched just a bit more. They'll still keep the fish alive and active while you photograph them.

Pototype Rod Cases Very light weight, semi-rigid cases with nylon or polyester fabric inside and out.

Daiwa Sagiri 54MC and 63MC Light, soft, smooth, zoom seiryu rods. Excellent for fish from 6 to 16 inches. (Discontinued, but at least for now, replacement parts are available.)

Jan 22, This Just In...

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 18:03:52 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 53 Excellent keiryu rod for smaller to medium width streams. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 5:5 330 Designed by a Japanese Master. Wooden grip. Excellent rod. Back in stock. (Just one rod.)

Marukyu Gluten Bait Pretty much the standard bait for tanago fishing in Japan. Back in stock.

Rodio-craft .5g Silver spoon Light weight fly rod spoon. Limit 2 per customer. Back in stock. (Very few in stock.)

Daiwa Micro Lumion .6g spoons A bit smaller than the Blinde Flanker but .1g heavier. Back in stock.

Dec 24, This Just In...

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 18:21:40 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 5:5 and 6:4 tenkara rods Designed by a Japanese Master. Wooden grips. Excellent rods. Back in stock.

Suntech Fine Power NP66 Truly wonderful light weight zoom keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Dec 16, This Just In...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:58:55 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 270 Fairly short (9'), fairly stiff (19 pennies) keiryu rod ideal for small streams that hold not-so-small fish. Back in stock. (Just one rod)

Wide Eyed Hooks Size 12 barbless hook with absolutely huge eye (makes it easy to tie onto tippet when the light is bad or if your vision is not what it once was). Back in stock.

Owner Tanago Floats Extremely small floats for extremely small fish. Back in stock.

Daiwa Iprimi 56XXUL-S The best spinning rod I've found for micro fishing, for those who prefer a spinning rod to a fixed line rod. Back in stock.

Dec 14, This Just In...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:56:33 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Medium and Long Rod Cases Light weight, semi-rigid plastic rod cases. Back in stock.

Daiwa Tenkara/Keiryu Net Round 30cm (12") diameter Keiryu Damo. Back in stock. (Just one)

Dec 12, This Just In...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 14:28:14 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Seiryu X 45 Midflex seiryu rod rated for 5X tippet. Back in stock. (Just one rod.)

3x5 Photo Tank Very handy for identifying and photographing micros. Back in stock.

Fuji Rod Caps More secure and less likely to be lost than standard tip plugs. Back in stock.

Owner Pro Markers (card) Pre-cut keiryu marker yarn with several colors in each package. Back in stock.

Daiwa .6g Micro Lumion spoons The smallest spoons I've found. Only 3/4" long. New items.

Nov 26, This Just In...

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:32:03 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock. Please note: Sale prices apply to these rods, too!

Nissin Zerosum Tenkara 7:3 360 Clearly one of the best 360-length tenkara rods available anywhere. Back in stock.

Nissin Pro Square Tenkara 6:4 360 I think this is the best choice for a "starter rod." Truly excellent value for the price. Back in stock.

Nissin Pro Square Tenkara 6:4 320 Over the years I have had several "kid's rods." This is the best. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 240 stiff For the last few years I have highlighted the Hakubai 240 medium. The "stiff" is only marginally stiffer. It has one big advantage over the medium: it is in stock! Back in stock.

Daiwa 1500SK Keiryu Line Holders A convenient way to carry up to 10 keiryu lines. Back in stock.

Nov 8, This Just In...

Mon, 8 Nov 2021 15:19:51 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 3' and 5' tanago rods Inexpensive tanago rods for close in micro fishing. Back in stock.

Daiwa Figure 8 tool Multi-tasking tool that makes knot tying easier and will hold the smallest fly to make it easier to tie on the tippet. Back in stock.

Oct 23, This Just In...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 22:07:18 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum 40 Tenkara rod that handles weighted nymphs as well as unweighted kebari. For larger streams than the TenkaraBum 36. Back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 39 Extremely versatile light weight 3-position zoom rod 32-36-39 for a range of stream widths. Back in stock.

Oct 17, This Just In...

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 18:57:31 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum 36 Tenkara rod that handles weighted nymphs as well as unweighted kebari. Back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 27 Light 9' rod that is ideal for smaller streams that have fish a bit too large for the Kurenai HM30R. Back in stock.

Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 63 Excellent, light weight 6.3m keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Suntech Kurenai PROSPEC 33 Seiryu rod that is a bit more capable than the Kurenai HM33R. Bacak in stock.

Gamakatsu tanago hooks Gamakatsu Ultimate, Smallest and New Half Moon snelled hooks. Back in stock.

Varivas 2300 Ultra Midge hooks Eyed hooks, sizes 20, 28 and 30. Back in stock.

Aug 20, Suntech Kaname III FP

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:43:43 -0400

The Suntech Kaname III FP is the latest improvement in the Kaname series. My first keiryu rod was a Suntech Kaname. It was a wonderful introduction to keiryu fishing (although I think I fished it with weighted flies a lot more than with bait). New to the Kaname III FP line-up are two shorter rods, the 38 and the 43. The FP stands for Fine Power, and similar to the Suntech Fine Power NP rods, the Kaname III FP rods can handle a wide range of tippet strengths. Suntech recommends tippets anywhere from 9X to 5X. The 38 and 43 length rods will seem somewhat familiar to people who have fished with the TenkaraBum Traveler 39 or 44 at full extension. They are not made on the same blanks, though. The Kaname III FP rods are single length rather than zoom rods. They are also noticeably lighter than the Traveler rods.

Jul 30, This Just In...

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:11:01 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Tenkara 6:4 320 Light, responsive rod that is ideal for smaller streams. Back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 5' Tanago Rod Fairly short, very sensitive rod for very small fish, from 3" sunfish to 1.5" mosquitofish. Back in stock.

Hi-vis fluorocarbon level tenkara line Sunline, Nissin Oni Line and Yamatoyo, all sizes. Back in stock.

Fujino nylon tapered tenkara line White, Soft (orange) and Midi (green). Back in stock.

Daiwa Tenkara Floating Line For honryu tenkara (in the mountains) and bass bugs (in the farmlands).

Owner micro fishing rig, 120cm Line, float, markers, weight and hook, rigged and ready to fish. Back in stock.

Daiwa Figure 8 tool Multi-functional knot tyer and hook holder. Back in stock.

Jul 16, This Just In...

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:08:36 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Kurenai Long 61 Wonderful, surprisingly light weight 6m keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Owner New Half Moon snelled tanago hooks Extremely small hooks for micro fishing. Snelled for ease of use. Back in stock.

Jul 4, Summer Sale

Sun, 4 Jul 2021 12:18:02 -0400

Daiwa Master Tenkara L LL36 - 10% off
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT 39 - 15% off
Daiwa Expert Tenkara L LL45M - 25% off
Daiwa Expert Seiryu Rods - 15% off
Daiwa Kiyose 43 M-Y and 53 M-Y - 20% off

Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38ZL - 15% off

Tenryu Streamwalker FSW733-4 - 20% off

Sale prices limited to rods in stock
Quantities are limited

Jul 4, Daiwa Expert Seiryu

Sun, 4 Jul 2021 10:13:00 -0400

I hereby nominate the Daiwa Expert Seiryu as the official rod for everyone who has been more than a little put off by the admonition that tenkara is only for trout and only for mountain streams. Daiwa describes the rod as an "Adult Play" rod that you can use anywhere from the headwaters to the ocean and for anything from micros to mebaru (small sea bass). Last I checked, most of America is between the headwaters and the ocean. Wherever you fish, it falls within the rod's description. Whatever you fish for is fair game (as long as it's appropriate for 5X to 10X tippets).

May 31, This Just In...

Mon, 31 May 2021 11:02:59 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Kiyose 43 M-Y, 53 M-Y Very capable, relatively inexpensive keiryu rods. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 450 One of the best honryu tenkara rods ever. Back in stock.

Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 330 If you want to fly fish for micros, this is your rod. Back in stock (just one rod).

Owner tanago hooks Smallest and New Half Moon, snelled and loose, and Migen. Back in stock (no hoarding!).

Daiwa Figure 8 Tool Very handy tool for tying knots or holding flies. Back in stock.

Daiwa Keiryu Line Holders Ten small line winders in a convenient case. Back in stock.

Shimano Net Leash Keeps your net from getting lost. Back in stock.

Nakazima 3/8" Ball Floats Perfect size for micros. Back in stock.

Daiwa Worm Threader Threads a worm onto a hook (best for worms larger than Red Wigglers). Back in stock.

May 30, Tenkara Prayer

Sun, 30 May 2021 17:16:56 -0400

by William DeLanney
Tenkara has taught me so much. I want to share what I have experienced with tenkara.
May I be one with tenkara.
May I have confidence in tenkara.
May I have patience on the water.
May I have compassion for nature.
May I have enjoyment of simple pleasures.
May I have fun while learning.
May I do more with less.
May tenkara bring me peace.
May it be so.

May 30, Meiho Fly Case SS

Sun, 30 May 2021 15:14:35 -0400

For years I used a small 6-compartment box that I eventually started selling as the Minimalist Fly Box. The last batch I received would not stay closed. The molded catch didn't catch, which made the cases virtually useless. The Meiho Fly Case SS stays closed when you latch it. It is also a bit larger than the Minimalist Fly Box (while still fitting in your pocket). It has more configuration options. It has one fixed longitudinal divider and 6 removable dividers, giving you the ability to configure anywhere from two to eight compartments. It works very nicely to hold a wide variety of items, whether flies, lures or floats (or a combination thereof). All in all, it is an extremely versatile small case for just $3.

May 26, Nikhedonia

Wed, 26 May 2021 08:03:52 -0400

by Jeffry Gottfried
I have been fly fishing for 52 years. It is a pleasure that I feel compelled to partake of for my mental and physical health, quality of life and overall enjoyment of nature. I seem to have my best days of birdwatching with a fly rod in my hand. I want to share with you all, the Tenkara Community, a word that is relatively new to me that seems to sum up what tenkara does for us all, all the sweetness and attractiveness that leads us to do seemingly crazy things to feed our passion.

May 15, This Just In...

Sat, 15 May 2021 10:16:48 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Flying Dragon 530 carp rod Carp rod that collapses to a convenient 22" length. Back in stock.

Nissin Pocket Mini 270 Extremely convenient 9' rod that packs down to less than 10" and weighs just 1 ounce. Back in stock.

Sunline sizes 3 and 3.5 Hi-vis orange level fluorocarbon tenkara line. Back in stock.

Marukyu Tanago Gluten Gluten powder for mixing the most popular type of tanago bait. Back in stock.

Owner Wakasagi 4-hook rig Similar to sabiki rigs, but with bare hooks (similar in size and shape to the Daiichi 1110 size 26). Back in stock.

Foam line winders Perfect for keeping snelled tanago hooks once they are out of the package. Back in stock.

May 8, Spring Sale!Shimano Tenkara Rods 15-25% off

Sat, 8 May 2021 22:41:02 -0400

Shimano Honryu Tenkara 44 NP - 25% off
Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38ZL - 15% off
Shimano Tenpyo Tenkara LLS36 NB - 15% off

Tenryu Streamwalker FSW733-4 - 20% off
Tenryu Streamwalker FSW793-4 - 20% off
Tenryu Streamwalker FSW823-4 - 20% off

May 6, This Just In...

Thu, 6 May 2021 19:01:20 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Varivas Master Spec tippet 3X-9X nylon and 5X fluorocarbon. Back in stock.

Daiwa Keiryu Damo Rigid, round hoop landing nets. 25 or 30cm hoop diameters (roughly 10" or 12". Used in Japan for keiryu and tenkara fishing. Back in stock.

Nikko Sashi Small, white artificial maggots. They work nicely for micro fishing (although you'll need hooks larger than the Owner Migen), and ought to work for trout and panfish but I haven't tried them. Back in stock.

Nikko Waxworms Artificial waxworms. They work nicely for trout and ought to work for panfish. Back in stock.

Dinsmore D4A split shot assortment Container with split shot sizes 6, 4, 1, and BB. Back in stock.

Gamakatsu Amago hooks Eyeless keiryu hooks with fairly extreme shape. Back in stock.

Apr 26, Spring Sale! Tenryu Fly Rods 20% off

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:49:40 -0400

After carrying JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) rods for years now, I am convinced that they provide the best quality you can find. More and more rods these days are made in China to hold down costs. Making rods in Japan does cost more, but I believe the quality control and the attention to detail more than make up for the higher cost. American fly fishermen may not look to Japan for fly rods, but perhaps they should. Tenryu Fates 3wt fly rods on sale. 4-piece StreamWalker and 6-piece Packer. Very few rods in stock.

Apr 11, This Just In...

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 19:14:39 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 360 5:5 Premium soft wooden-gripped tenkara rod for medium sized streams. Just delightful. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Honryu 450 Honryu tenkara rod that is suprisingly inexpensive yet still one of the best (as long as you are not backpacking). Back in stock (just one rod).

Nissin Tanago Koro 5 Five foot tanago rod that is soft enough for a shiner to put a bend in it. Back in stock (just one rod).

Owner Acorn Floats Nicely designed floats for keiryu or "float 'n' fly" fishing. Back in stock.

Mar 29, This Just In...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 08:46:26 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum 360 6:4 Premium softer midflex tenkara rod for medium sized streams. Back in stock.

Nissin Flying Dragon 620 Carp rod that collapses to a convenient length. Back in stock.

Daiwa Kiyose 53M-Y Very capable keiryu rod (large trout, bass, small carp). Back in stock.

Nissin Mon 2.6 Extremely short (32") tanago rod that collapses to 6.75". Back in stock.

Gamakatsu Ultimate tanago hooks Snelled hooks with extremely short point for the smallest fish. Back in stock.

Jintan Marker Beads Threaded on the line under the float, they detect when a fish takes the bait and moves to the side. More sensitive than the float itself. Back in stock.

Nissin PALS SP Pro Tapered multi-filament fluorocarbon tenkara line. Heavier than level line, casts well with stiffer rods. Back in stock.

Fujino Tapered Tenkara Lines Tapered nylon tenkara lines. Bright orange, bright green and white. Back in stock.

Feb 21, This Just In...

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 12:48:20 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum 400 6:4 Premium softer midflex tenkara rod for larger streams. Back in stock.

Nissin Oni Honryu 395 Very capable rod designed by Tenkara no Oni. Back in stock.

Nissin Tanano Koro 5' tanago rod Very nice rod. A bit more flexible than the Daiwa Hinata. Back in stock (only one in stock).

Nissin Mon 3' tanago rod Shorter and a bit firmer than the Tanago Koro. Firmer than the Daiwa Hinata 3' rod. Very short collapsed length. Back in stock.

Owner Micro Fishing Rigs, 120 and 240cm. Pre-rigged line with float, markers, weight and tanago hook. All you need but the rod and the bait. Back in stock.

Nissin Oni Line size 3.5 (orange) Extremely visible orange tenkara line. A bit softer and more opaque than the Sunline. Back in stock.

Fuji Rod Caps (PTC-10, KTC-12 and KTC-16) More secure and harder to lose than tip plugs. Back in stock.

Rod Cases (large and long) Light weight, semi-rigid cases. The large will hold up to 4 tenkara rods. The Long will hold most of the tenkara rods with long collapsed length, and some 2-piece spinning or baitcasting rods. Back in stock.

Jan 23, This Just In...

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 14:59:06 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Kiyose 43 M-Y, 53 M-Y Beefy keiryu rods suitable for large trout, bass and modest carp. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 450 Designed by Oni himself to handle larger American fish. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum 7:3 and 6:4 450 rods Honryu-length rods for larger rivers. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum 6:4 360 Premium soft tenkara rod for mountain streams. Back in stock.

Medium and Small Rod Cases Light weight semi-rigid plastic rod cases. Back in stock.

Fujino "Soft" tapered nylon tenkara line, 5m Extremely visible nylon line, casts well and shows up well on video (hint, hint). Back in stock.

Fujino "Soft Tenkara, Long Type" tapered nylon tenkara line, 7m Tapered nylon line for honryu fishing or casting practice. Back in stock.

Owner "Smallest" and "New Half Moon" snelled tanago hooks Most popular micro fishing hooks in the U.S. Back in stock.

Micro Fishing Floats Very small floats from Owner and Nakazima. Back in stock.

Marukyu Tanago Gluten Powdered gluten. Mix 1:1 with water to make paste bait for micro fishing. New item.

Owner Pro Markers (card) Pre-cut keiryu yarn markers in several colors. Back in stock.

Dec 30, This Just In...

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 18:16:25 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Keiryu Damo V 25cm Round net for keiryu or tenkara fishing. 10" diameter hoop. Back in stock.

Sunline "Extra Cast" tapered line for honryu tenkara Clear knotless 8m fluorocarbon line that taperes from size 3.5 to size 1.5. Back in stock.

Owner New Half Moon Snelled tanago hooks Small hooks for small fish. Snelled just makes life easier. Back in stock.

Owner Bamboo Line Winders Small (2.4") line winders for micro or keiryu lines. Back in stock.

Sunline Tenjo Line (nylon) Bright green line for top section of keiru lines. Back in stock.

Nakazima Ball Floats Half-inch and five-eighth floats for simple keiryu fishing. Back in stock.

Dec 23, This Just In...

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:23:35 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Fine Power NP56 Truly excellent keiryu rod (casts a tenkara line well, too). Back in stock.

Suntech Field Master Suguru Long H63 Keiryu rod rated for 4X tippet (long collapsed length). Back in stock.

Nissin Tanago Koro 5 foot tanago rod, softer than Daiwa Hinata. Back in stock.

Ganakatsu Ultimate Snelled tanago hooks with extremely short points. Good for the smallest fish. Back in stock.

Dec 17, This Just In...

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 15:03:25 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Sagiri 39 and 45 Very nice, light weight zoom seiryu rods. Back in stock.

Suntech Field Master Suguru Long H54 Very capable (4X tippet) Keiryu rod. Long collapsed length. Back in stock.

Daiwa Keiryu Damo V30 30cm (12 inch hoop) net. Back in stock.

Rodio-craft Blinde Flanker .5g Spoons Gold or Silver spoons, light enough to fish with a tenkara rod. Back in stock.

Dec 13, Trip Report - 12-11-20

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 15:43:11 -0500

If you consider the best fisherman to be the one who catches the most fish, the best fisherman I know stresses above all else that you must be the first person to fish that stretch of stream that day. He plans out his day in advance, but when he gets to the stream, if there is another car parked there, he will leave and go to another stream. If he starts fishing and sees another fisherman upstream from him, where he would soon be fishing, he leaves and goes to another stream. Of course, he doesn't fish in the NYC suburbs, where the other stream would also have fishermen. Still, of all the wisdom he can convey from his 40-odd years of fishing (including more years than you would believe since he was last skunked), his most important is that you must be the first person to fish that stretch of stream that day.

Dec 13, Trip Report 11-29-20

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 15:39:18 -0500

First, a bit of background information. The path that eventually led me to discovering tenkara started with a photo of a North Country wet fly. The simple, slim body and ultra sparse hackle that looked for all the world like the ribs of a super small umbrella were magical, and I am still under their spell. Early in my tenkara journey, though, I fell into the "tenkara flies are sakasa kebari" trap, so nearly all my photos show flies with forward slanting hackle. I also fell into the Killer Bug trap because it is just so effective where I normally fish.

Dec 5, This Just In...

Sat, 5 Dec 2020 10:56:22 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock. One "This Just In..." report didn't get sent out, so this one will include items that were received since the last report.

Air Stage Hakubai 240 medium Extremely soft 8' seiryu rod for small trout, sunnies and micros. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 395 and 450-length rods for larger fish in larger streams. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu Tenkara 6:4 330 and 5:5 360 rods. The 6:4 is stiffer than most tenkara rods, the 5:5 is softer than most tenkara rods. Both are very nice. Back in stock.

Nissin Pro Square Super Tenkara 6:4 630 Delightfully soft, full flex tenkara rod. Joy to fish with and excellent value. Back in stock after long absence.

Nissin Tenkara Mini 320 Collapses to less than 10". Cork grip. Back in stock.

Nissin Pocket Mini 270 and 360 Collapses to less than 10". Does not have cork grip. Lighter and a bit softer than Tenkara Mini. Back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 5' tanago rod Longer and more capable than the 3' Hinata. A bit stiffer (and less expensive) than the Nissin Tanago Koro. Back in stock (after long absence).

Sunline Tenkara Tapered Line 8m clear fluorocarbon tapered tenkaraline. Use as is for honryu tenkara, cut to length for keiryu tenkara. Two weights. New items.

Owner Smallest (snelled and loose) and New Half Moon (loose) Tanago hooks, for when the micros are too small to use fly hooks. Back in stock.

Daiwa Tenkara Floating Line, 4m and 7m PVC coated yellow floating tenkara line. Back in stock.

Forest Chaser .6g spoons A bit heavier than the Rodio-craft Blinde Flankers, but not too heavy for a fixed line rod. Back in stock. (Link is to Finesse-Fishing.com)

Nov 24, Trip Report - 11-22-20

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 20:30:50 -0500

Sunday's trip was essentially a follow-up to the previous week's outing. Same creek, some of the same rods and some of the same lines. Mostly different flies, though. The deep pool where I'd caught my first fish last week did not yield another on this week's trip. It was quite a ways up the stream and into the day before I even had a hit. Just the slightest tightening of the line was all the indication I got. Luckily, I was paying close attention and that was sufficient. One fish in the net. There is a somewhat common statement on the internet something along the lines of "post a photo or it didn't happen." I have a photo, but I won't post it - at least not today. Turns out I was fishing a rod that I will introduce on Black Friday - not really as a Black Friday Sale item, but it is a rod that I don't want to reveal now. (I mean, what's the fun of a surprise if you announce it days in advance?)

Nov 20, This Just In...

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:50:07 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Tenkara Mon Tanago rod that collapses to just 6.75 inches long. Back in stock.

Micro Finesse Original Bloodworm One inch long rubber bloodworm. Back in stock.

Nov 17, Why is Tenkara so Effective?

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:02:38 -0500

By John Evans
San Antonio, TX As I understand it, tenkara was developed in Japan over 300 years ago by market anglers who fished small mountain streams for a living. If they didn’t catch fish, there was little to eat or sell. The way they fished had to be effective and efficient for them to survive. Tenkara is also productive in the United States, though we have broadened the definition and usage of the Japanese method to fit our waters. I’ve been tenkara angling for six or seven years now, and the main reason I enjoy it is that I catch more fish. Yes, the casting is beautiful, the scenery relaxing, and the exercise beneficial; but the aim is to catch fish.

Nov 7, If I Could Use Only One Fly

Sat, 7 Nov 2020 20:49:30 -0500

by John Evans

Right after the argument about the best tenkara rod comes the heated discussion about the best fly. There are no magic flies that consistently catch fish under every condition. Plus, presentation almost always trumps pattern. But, let’s face it, we all have certain flies that we fish with confidence—ones that produce when others fail. So, what is that fly for you?

Nov 6, This Just In...

Fri, 6 Nov 2020 19:53:46 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 63 Excellent keiryu rod! Back in stock.

Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38ZL Premium quality zoom tenkara rod. Soft full flex at full extension, a bit firmer at the shorter setting. Back in stock.

Owner Tanago Floats Small, extremely sensitive floats. Back in stock.

Owner Acorn Floats - 40mm and 55mm Floats shaped for moving water. Back in stock.

Owner Top Floats - 70mm and 100mm Sensitive floats shaped for still water. Back in stock.

Bamboo line winders Ideal for storing micro fishing rigs. Back in stock.

Daiwa floating tenkara line Casts well and is still relatively light. Ideal for panfish poppers. Back in stock.

Barbless carp hooks (bottom of page) Back by request. Strong hooks for large fish. Back in stock.

Nov 4, This Just In...

Wed, 4 Nov 2020 16:15:21 -0500

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

TenkaraBum Traveler 27 Ideal rod for very small streams. Shorter than Kurenai HM30R and capable of landing slightly larger fish. Back in stock.

Kid's Tenkara Rod (Nissin Pro Square 6:4 320) Not too long, heavy or expensive for a child to use. (You'll want to borrow it.) Back in stock.

Fujino tapered nylon tenkara lines Midi and Soft lines are extremely visible, the White is stealthy. Back in stock.

Suntech Kurenai HM45R and HM63R As nice as the HM30R, just longer. Back in stock.

Oct 31, This Just In...

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 17:54:22 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

FMX Keiryu ZPRO 53 and 63 Extremely soft keiryu rods capable of fishing extremely light lines. Back in stock.

FMX Keiryu Stiff 54 Very capable 5.4m keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 330 Soft, full flex seiryu rod ideal for fly fishing for micros, sunfish or small trout. Back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 3 Short tanago rod for the tiniest of streams. Back in stock.

Large and Small Rod Cases Light weight adjustable semi-rigid plastic rod cases. Back in stock (very few in stock).

Varivas 7X nylon tippet Ideal tippet for seiryu rods. Back in stock.

Daiichi 1110 size 26 hooks For the tiniest bead head Killer Bugger. Perfect for small micros. Back in stock.

3X5 Photo Tank Photo tank for micros or smaller sunfish. Keep 'em wet. Back in stock.

Micro fishing photo tank Small plexiglass "tank" makes it easier to identify micros. Back in stock.

Oct 27, Fly Spoons, 2.0, Too Much Time in the Basement

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:44:51 -0400

by Alan Luecke Between Chris bringing in the Rodio-Craft .5g Blinde Flanker spoons and all the other cool Japanese gear and me with an abundance of pandemic leisure I got back into spoon making. These use the same system I came up with a few years back, but this time I used the Rodio-Craft profile and the small 00 split rings. The 00's are the same size as on the factory spoons and just look right. However, handling and installing them is its own special joy.

Oct 27, Trip Report - 10-25-20

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:44:51 -0400

I had decided to go to "The Best Looking Stream in which I Never Catch Fish." I don't really know why. I almost never catch fish there. It just looks so fishy, but it gets absolutely pounded (probably because it just looks so fishy). I have been told, by a guy who used to be a regular and has caught a lot of fish there, that the way to fish it is exactly the way everyone I saw on Sunday was fishing it - a tiny nymph under a Thingamabobber. I don't know if any of them caught any fish. I saw quite a few people fishing and I never saw anyone catch anything.

Oct 21, This Just In...

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 09:58:11 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Fujino Soft Tenkara Long Type 7m and 9m tapered nylon lines for honryu tenkara and casting practice. Back in stock.

Owner Migen Tanago Hooks These hooks have shorter points than even the Gamakatsu Ultimate (capable of catching even smaller fish)! Back in stock.

Gamakatsu Barbless Circle Hooks Eyeless, barbless hooks for passive bait fishing. Back in stock.

Owner Acorn Floats Floats shaped for river fishing. Back in stock.

Owner Top Floats Floats shaped for lake fishing. Back in stock.

Oct 20, Trip Report - 10-18-20

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:24:15 -0400

When I first imported Nissin Pro Square Super Tenkara rods for evaluation seven years ago, I ordered a number of their 6:4 and 7:3 rods. I also imported one of their Level Line rods. I decided not to carry the Level Line rod, thinking most people would prefer a rod that was not quite so full flex. A few weeks ago I ordered another one. When I took the rod out for a trial run the following weekend I was not disappointed. Not at all.

Oct 13, This Just In...

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 21:10:00 -0400

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 240 Medium Extremely soft 8' seiryu rod. Ideal for for micros or very small trout. Back in stock (very few rods).

Nissin Zerosum Tenkara 6:4 320 Premium shorter, softer tenkara rod. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 395 and 450 Truly excellent tenkara rods for bigger fish and bigger water. Designed by a true master. Back in stock.

Nissin Royal Stage Honryu 390 Very smooth casting wooden-gripped honryu rod. Back in stock.

Nikko Waxworm Artificial waxworm (surprisingly effective). Back in stock.

Oct 5, More Tapered Leaders

Mon, 5 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

by Sean W So this weekend I ended up doing some two-handed tenkara-type casting with my Fieldmaster Suguru Long H54. Trout were rising in a pond, but it was just out of reach from shore with a keiryu rig the length of the rod. Thankfully I remembered...

Oct 5, I think I'm doing it wrong but I'm having fun

Mon, 5 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

by Steve Brockwell I've been fishing "Tenkara" style for a couple of years. I put Tenkara in quotes because I use a cheap Chinese knockoff collapsible rod 12 feet long without a cork grip.